Publisher Channel Content by InternetReputation.com
If you’re on the hunt for a new job, you simply must use LinkedIn.
That’s because research suggests that some 94 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet potential hires. If you’re asking for work, your potential employers are asking about you by looking at your profile on LinkedIn.
And, if your profile is public, your friends and neighbors might be checking out your LinkedIn profile, too. They might be looking for information on what job title you have now, what your company is doing, and what sorts of peers you’re spending time with. All of that snooping could give them just what they need to either boost your company’s success or take it right down into the gutter.
That means this one little site could be the best reputation management tool you have. But you have to use the site properly in order to get the biggest bang for your reputation buck.
Here are 10 pesky mistakes that could keep you from LinkedIn success.
#1. You’re not using your real name.
If you’ve been through some kind of reputation attack, chances are, your name is tacked to all sorts of terms that don’t accurately describe who you are and what you can do. Getting out in front of this damage means using your name as much as possible, especially in spots in which you can tie that name to something good. That means you simply must use your real name, not a pseudonym, in your LinkedIn profile. This is one place in which hiding simply will not help you.
#2. You didn’t run spell check.
As you’re tap-tapping data into LinkedIn, the program is consistently searching for spelling errors. Each time you get a word wrong, you’ll get a little red squiggle of warning. Pay attention to those lines and amend your spelling, as needed, so you’ll look like the educated professional you really are. Every type-o and grammar error shows your carelessness, so it pays to be careful.
#3. You didn’t use a summary.
At the top of your profile, you’re given a little space to chat about your accomplishments and skills. You know what else you can put here? Great keywords. Think about the words you’d like people to use when they talk about you and your work, and incorporate those words into your summary. You’ll tie those good attributes to your name with this one easy step. Be sure to write naturally, so you’re not stuffing this space with keywords, but adding a few could really help your cause.
#4. You didn’t include your home town.
Many reputation attacks are local in nature, stemming from something that happened close to where you live or where you work. By including a city name, you’re tying your LinkedIn entry to your location, and you’re providing yet another take on your character in your home town. That’s a vital step, and it’s so easy to complete. Just make sure you include your city name. You don’t need to include your entire address, but one place name is vital.
#5. Your job history is incomplete.
An infographic from Masters in Human Resources suggests that about 50 percent of people who use LinkedIn have incomplete profiles. Many of these people skip details about the jobs they’ve held or the work they’ve done.
Each job entry provides you with yet another opportunity to use excellent keywords. Each time you type, you’re giving a reader another opportunity to think about you in a different way, and each entry gives you yet another chance to drown out a reputation attack. Take each chance you’re given by filling out that profile completely.
#6. Your photo isn’t professional.
Selfies, be gone! Your LinkedIn photo should show you in the clothing, and in the position you plan to hold when you’re at work. That means you should be dressed nicely, smiling appropriately and centered in the camera lens. These few extra steps help you ensure that you look snappy and smart in your photos, and that could go miles toward protecting your reputation.
#7. You have no testimonials.
Testimonials allow the people who have worked with you to speak up about how great you are. They’re a little like votes of confidence, and they can do wonders for your reputation. To get them, just reach out to a few colleagues and ask them to take the time to jot down some notes about you. When they’re done, you’ll have a suite of tools that can help you to demonstrate your value as a worker.
#8. You’ve accepted invitations from everyone.
If you’re scanning your contact list and you can’t quite determine how you know the people you’re connected to, chances are, you’ve accepted invitations from strangers. It happens. Someone sends you a note, you hit “accept,” and before you know it, you’re tied to people you’ve never met before.
In general, your LinkedIn connections should include people you know. Good connections include:
- Co-workers
- Industry colleagues
- Classmates
- Potential employers
- Teachers
- Mentors
If you’re connected to random people, cull your list until you’re only dealing with people you know.
#9. You’re connected to a few shady characters.
Your reputation is almost as important as your credit score. And some companies measure your online reputation by checking out the people you interact with online. If your contact list contains exceptional professionals, you’re also considered exceptional. And the reverse is true, too. So weed out the names of people with unclean histories.
#10. You’ve embellished the truth here and there.
When it comes to LinkedIn, honesty truly is the best policy. It’s remarkably easy for people to check your facts, and you’ll want to ensure that the checks they do run smoothly. So be sure that each word you write is 100 true.
If you’re not a writer, don’t despair. There are all sorts of freelance writers out there that specialize in resume, CV and LinkedIn profile writing. You might need to pay these professionals for their time, and you will need to check their work, but since your profile has such a deep impact on your success, that’s a good investment to make.
If you have great profile tips, share them! Comments with tips, tricks or success stories are always appreciated.What it’s really like to be a small business owner – revealing how they invest their time and money to grow their businesses, and in turn, their local communities.
Images: “MANCHESTER-FEB 13: Linkedin website home page on Feb 13, 2014 in Manchester, UK. LinkedIn is a social networking website for people in professional occupations. The site is available in 20 languages./Shutterstock.com“
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